Simon Donnelly

Simon Thomas Donnelly (born 1 December 1974) is a Scottish professional football coach and former player. Donnelly played as a forward or wide midfielder for Queen's Park, Celtic, Sheffield Wednesday, St Johnstone, Dunfermline Athletic, Partick Thistle and Scotland.

For the member of the Irish Republican Army, see Simon Donnelly (Irish republican).

Simon Donnelly
Donnelly with York City in 2016
Personal information
Full name Simon Thomas Donnelly[1]
Date of birth (1974-12-01) 1 December 1974
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Position(s) Striker, midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992–1993 Queen's Park 0 (0)
1993–1999 Celtic 146 (30)
1999–2003 Sheffield Wednesday 53 (8)
2003–2004 St Johnstone 36 (8)
2004–2006 Dunfermline Athletic 39 (4)
2006–2011 Partick Thistle 122 (14)
Total 396 (64)
International career
1994–1996 Scotland U21[3] 11 (3)
1997–1998 Scotland 10 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He established himself at Celtic, winning the Scottish League title in 1997–98 and being a member of the Scotland squad at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. In 1999 he moved to English football with Sheffield Wednesday, but struggled with injuries in his time there. Returning to Scotland, he played for St Johnstone, Dunfermline and Partick Thistle before his playing retirement in 2011.

He has since moved into coaching, acting as assistant manager to Jackie McNamara at Partick Thistle, Dundee United and York City, and Mark Wilson at Brechin City.

Club career

A wide forward, Donnelly started his career at Queen's Park but left in 1993 to join Celtic. He made his league debut towards the end of the 1993–94 season, appearing as a substitute in a 0–0 draw against Hibernian.[4] Playing in the majority of matches from March onwards, Donnelly scored five league goals in 12 appearances. He failed to improve on this tally in the following season as he did not score in 17 outings, although the team reached both domestic cup finals, and he was part of Celtic's Scottish Cup-winning side. In the 1995–96 season, Donnelly became a regular, missing only one league match and scoring six goals, and featured in the majority of the 1996–97 campaign.

The 1997–98 season saw Donnelly's best return of goals, scoring 10 goals in 30 league matches as Celtic won the Scottish Premier Division and Scottish League Cup. The following season, he scored five goals in 23 appearances in what was his final year at Celtic Park. In July 1999, Donnelly – along with Phil O'Donnell – joined Sheffield Wednesday on a Bosman free transfer.[5]

Donnelly's time at Wednesday was interrupted by a series of injuries and he played only a dozen matches in the Premier League that season, scoring once as Wednesday were relegated. The following season, he featured in just three matches, although he played in 23 games in the 2001–02 season.[6] In his final season at Hillsborough, Donnelly scored two goals in fifteen league matches before being released.[7]

Joining Coventry City on trial,[8] Donnelly instead returned to Scotland with St Johnstone, signing a one-year deal in August 2003.[9] Surprisingly, given his injury history, he featured in every league match of that season, scoring eight goals before signing for Dunfermline Athletic in July.[10] During his time at East End Park, his injuries returned and he was released two years later having made fewer than forty league appearances.

He joined Partick Thistle in June 2006[11] and played regularly for three seasons. He was initially released at the end of the 2008–09 season, and made a substitute appearance for Greenock Morton in a friendly against Oxford United. However, following the departure of Partick coach John Henry to Burnley, Donnelly rejoined the Jags as a player-coach, scoring against Morton in a 2–0 win at Cappielow later that season.[12] In a similar pattern, Donnelly was then released by Partick again at the end of the 2009–10 season, but soon re-signed once more on a one-year contract.[13] In 2011 he ceased playing but continued at the club as a coach after his friend and teammate Jackie McNamara was appointed manager.

International career

At end of the 1996–97 season, Donnelly made his Scotland debut, making substitute appearances in the friendly matches against Wales and Malta. The following season Donnelly also featured regularly for Scotland, playing in a number of friendlies ahead of the 1998 World Cup,[5] although he failed to make an appearance during the tournament. Donnelly won ten Scotland caps during his career, and had played for Scotland under-21 before appearing for the senior side.

Coaching career

On 30 January 2013, Donnelly left Partick Thistle and joined Dundee United as assistant manager, accompanying Jackie McNamara who had been appointed manager. He left Dundee United in September 2015, following McNamara's departure.[14]

Donnelly was announced as York City's assistant manager two months later, following McNamara to Bootham Crescent.[15] After McNamara's resignation as manager and appointment as chief executive,[16] Donnelly left the club on 16 October 2016.[17][5]

In September 2020, Donnelly landed the assistant manager's job at Scottish side Brechin City, working with another former Celtic player, Mark Wilson.[18] Donnelly and Wilson were sacked by Brechin in October 2020.[19]

Personal life

Donnelly grew up in Burnside, Rutherglen and attended Stonelaw High School.[20] His father Tom Donnelly was also a footballer, who failed to break into the team at Rangers[21] in the late 1960s but played for Motherwell and East Stirlingshire over the next decade before becoming a school teacher.[22][23]

Career statistics
As of 7 June 2011[24][25]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Other[lower-alpha 1] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Celtic 1993–94 Scottish Premier Division 124000000124
1994–95 Scottish Premier Division 170205000240
1995–96 Scottish Premier Division 3564131424610
1996–97 Scottish Premier Division 295203020365
1997–98 Scottish Premier Division 30103053634416
1998–99 Scottish Premier League 235201071436
Total 1463013117419619541
Sheffield Wednesday 1999–2000 Premier League 121303000181
2000–01 First Division 3100000031
2001–02 First Division 234002000254
2002–03 First Division 152001000162
Total 538306000628
St Johnstone 2003–04 Scottish First Division 3681042214311
Dunfermline Athletic 2004–05 Scottish Premier League 213001010233
2005–06 Scottish Premier League 131002000151
Total 394003010434
Partick Thistle 2006–07 Scottish First Division 244102010284
2007–08 Scottish First Division 181502000251
2008–09 Scottish First Division 311203021382
2009–10 Scottish First Division 3581021113910
2010–11 Scottish First Division 140201000170
Total 122141101014214717
Career total 3966428140726949081
  1. Includes the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup and Scottish Challenge Cup

Honours

Celtic

References
  1. "Simon Donnelly". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  2. "Simon Donnelly Midfielder, Profile & Stats | Premier League". www.premierleague.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  3. "Scotland U21 Player Simon Donnelly Details".
  4. "Simon Donnelly". Sporting Heroes. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  5. The big interview: Ex-Celtic star Simon Donnelly has gone from Bhoy to man and has a brilliant CV - now he just needs a job, Daily Record, 13 August 2017
  6. "Simon Donnelly". Sporting Heroes. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  7. "Turner wields the axe". BBC Sport. 8 May 2003. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  8. "Coventry cool on trial duo". BBC Sport. 13 June 2003. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  9. "Donnelly signs for Saints". BBC Sport. 1 August 2003. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  10. "Donnelly seals Pars move". BBC Sport. 14 July 2004. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  11. "Donnelly makes switch to Thistle". BBC Sport. 5 June 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  12. "Morton 0–2 Partick Thistle". BBC Sport. 7 November 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
  13. "Quartet sign on again at Firhill". BBC Sport. 2 July 2010.
  14. "Dundee United confirm Jackie McNamara exit as manager". BBC Sport. BBC. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  15. "York City appoint Jackie McNamara as manager after Russ Wilcox exit". The Guardian. 4 November 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  16. Flett, Dave (16 October 2016). "York City confirm Gary Mills' return as manager and Jackie McNamara's appointment as chief executive". The Press. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  17. "Donnelly Departs". York City FC. 16 October 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  18. McGinley, John (8 September 2020). "Former Celtic star Simon Donnelly lands Brechin City assistant manager post". Hail Hail. 67hailhail.com. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  19. "Mark Wilson departs as Brechin City manager". BBC Sport. BBC. 27 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  20. "Stonelaw High waves farewell to favourite teacher". Daily Record / Rutherglen Reformer. 5 October 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  21. No Rangers player would get in Celtic team – Simon Donnelly, The Scotsman, 10 April 2017
  22. Tom Donnelly, MotherWELLnet
  23. East Stirlingshire players, Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database
  24. Simon Donnelly at Soccerbase
  25. Celtic player Simon Donnelly, FitbaStats
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